[Actually, I didn't really ask the last question...that's the question I see in people's faces when they ask, "So, what did you do today?" And I answer, "Oh, I stitched a flower."]

I mean really. I just spent 10 hours or so on embroidering a motif that is 2" x 3" -- a small motif in the bottom right hand corner of an 8" block.

No wonder they call it a pastime. No wonder it's becoming a lost art.

Given the billions of people on this earth, there just aren't that many who would choose to spend their time this way. Not even 1%.

Let's face it. Even all of you reading this blog...well, we're just not that many compared to the masses in the world. We really are a small group. How many teenage girls and boys do you know that are studying embroidery?

There are so many alternatives for our time.

I could be saving the world. I could be changing the face of health care. I could be building houses for the homeless...

But I'm not.

Though I may dabble in those pursuits...helping my neighbor when I can, volunteering in my community, helping out at my son's school...

If I'm truly honest, those activities just take time away from what I really want to be doing.

They're just diversions to my true calling. And, after all this time, I have no doubt that needlework is my calling.

But is that legitimate today?

Two hundred years ago maybe...when royalty displayed their wealth on their sleeves in the form of precious and intricate embroideries...

But today? And yet, the calling is there.

Perhaps it is legitimate by the mere fact that it exists...I mean, at least I have a passion...many go through life without one.

Yet I'm not sure why I have this drive or what purpose it serves in my life.

I just know that I am drawn to my embroidery like a fish is to the sea. And it feeds my soul.

It's an obsession...a pre-occupation with designing, sourcing and creating embroidery projects...and I could no more stop doing it than I could cut off my right arm.

I dream about it. I'm always thinking about it. And I know I'm not alone. [I'm waving at YOU!]

I don't care if a project takes forever to complete...or a specific technique is tedious and time consuming...

I am patient.

I am on a journey...on my own yellow brick road...and to deviate from that path would be to deny my true self.

And yet, I have no idea why I am here on this road.

Why I would spend two days of my life stitching this one small motif?

I have no idea. I am just compelled to do so.

But, is that reason enough? Shouldn't I be doing something "bigger" with my life? I mean really, will my pursuit of needlework leave the world a better place?

It's hard to believe that it will. And yet I can't step from this path...

[Oh boy. This is where you all wonder what someone slipped into my tea cup...]

If you hear about a pill, I could use one myself! I feel the same way as you, I'd rather be sewing. Some people just don't understand, and the way I see it--It's their loss. Keep on stitching! Your flowers are beautiful!!

It's making *your* world a better place, and that in turn, makes the world for everyone else a better place.

I spend hours on my creations, from agonizing whether linen or silk would be better, which particular faceted Iolite bead would go best right in that spot, and somehow it gives meaning to my life. I understand this flavor of crazy very well ;)

And the flower is gorgeous, the pearls, the black lace on aqua (I share an obsession with aqua, it never goes away, just goes into remission!) the matte aqua beads, it's all perfection! Thanks for sharing the images and the words!

Let's be honest here. If you weren't stitching, you wouldn't be building houses for the homeless, nor would you be changing the face of health care. Chances are, you'd be sat on the sofa, watching TV and possibly stuffing your face. That's the reality. Stitching is relaxing, it's a hobby, you do it in your free time. You don't change the world in your free time, that's more of a job. Better?

Stitching such a beautiful flower is productive! Just think of al the beauty and creativity you bring into the world to share with all of us! Then imagine the millions of people who do nothing every day and night spending their time mindlessly in front of the TV. For my part, I'll choose doing something creative every time and I'm so glad that you do too!

Your work is a form of art and as art is just as valid a use of your time as any other pursuit. You put your imagination, talent and time to bring small treasures of beauty into the world. I can't think of a better way to spent time. We need more people doing the same.

hmm, waxing philosophical today are we?having an existential crisis of competing moral imperatives? Good! it means I'm not the only one who thinks I'm an idiot when I spend 10 days beading a 2" project only to get halfway through and decide "I don't like that color" rip it out and start all over again! we spend all this time collecting, organizing, designing, creating, documenting and enjoying and what is it all for?face it I am never going to change the world or solve it's ills.It keeps me out of trouble, I am happy when doing it and I make my little corner of the world a prettier place.and for me that is enough

What beautiful work!!!!! I love your passion for needlework. It shows in all your work. I also think, dream, about what my next project will be. A friend of mine bought an EXPENSIVE embroidery machine . It made me feel sad that she thought this machine did such beautiful embroidery. Give me a needle and thread. Lets keep the beautiful hand work ....Lise

Well I KNOW you were waving at ME because I feel the very same way... and there is even more urgency to stitch since I realize my years are finite and I have macular degeneration..

I have fond memories of the winter my broken leg was in a cast for 3 months and I HAD to sit with it elevated... I couldn't drive, clean house and had to be waited on... I stitched all day every day and never tired of it.. hour after hour.

Now I am thinking what would be the least painful way to break the other leg next winter... I want to be buried with stash and my chateleine just in case heaven is where I REALLY have serious stitching time... Hugs Ger

Embroidery is art and art makes the world a better place. There is cave art so obiously people need art to live. I must believe that because I have encouraged my daughter to go into fine art - she is starting college in the fall and hopes to major in sculpture! The school also has a program in textile art, so there are young people doing what you do - I've seen their work and it is wonderful - just like yours. Enjoy.

You must not realize how much you enrich others lives...I come to your blog nearly every day...and swoon and sigh over all I see and read. I have learned so much! Please don't change...your blog is a home for those of us who feel artistically homeless....your work is food that feeds our artistic souls. Thank you for sharing your extensive knowledge, your beautiful work and for lighting a path that many of us would have never found on our own...Nydra

I believe that the creation of beautiful things is of benefit to everyone...most particularly to future generations of people who will one day be astounded and grateful that someone spent the time to create such gorgeousness with their own two hands. I know that seeing handwork from previous generations of women makes me feel connected in a way that reading about them does not. It's tangible evidence that the human spirit craves and creates beauty. I think we should never stop creating these works of art, and that we should take care to pass along our tools and our appreciation to younger generations.

I am with you on it all ..lol I can't do much else than stitch and create as my body is k *** d ..lol so I do it for enjoyment .. it passes my day away and I am striving to stitch as beautiful as you in my own way :) love mouse xxxx

bolder dash..or is that balder dash? do you think the people working on Kate's wedding gown felt like they were wasting time?? Not. Even. so go back and make another one...or what ever it is you are going to do on this sq. i sure as sh*t would!

My thoughts and wondering match your own. For me, it is the love of creating and the challenge to succeed that fuel my journey. A strong desire to share and belong drive me to share this pursuit. The journey itself is pure bliss! The items created are often given away or forgotten...so their individual value is not the goal...but the pursuit itself is where the joy is. So, my creative pursuit continues!Kathywww.shawkl.com

Hey, Susan, not only have you created something very beautiful, you are helping to keep needlework alive for everyone to enjoy. I'm glad you follow your passion; you are an inspiration to many, including me. Keep on a-stitching!

What a beautiful creation! I would like to think that if more people spent time on things such as needlework, the world would be a much better and prettier place!! Especially is more people would just listen to their callings instead of trying to compete and keep up. I am always touched and inspired by your creations! Have a wonderful weekend!

I can certainly relate to your passion... I also echo what Gerry Krueger said my years are also finite and I have so so much to do before I sleep!! You are fortunate to have this passion at you "young" age. I always love handwork but tambour work is a passion with a flame I can't put out. Your flowers over the lace are stunning!!

Your work is BEAUTIFUL!! I completely understand what you are saying, I feel that way about my needlecrafts too! But just think of the beauty you create to share with the world! We all have our own passions in life and all of those passions are necessary and relevant, so don't think for a minute that what you do is not as important as someone else's contribution to the world.

What a great post! Needlework is very therapeutic for me, so is gardening. But sitting in my little creative space with thread, beads, laces working on the latest project always makes me feel peaceful. I put on some soothing music that I have, hum along and am content.

I would hope that everyone could feel a passion for something. Yours happens to be stitching something beautiful. I felt guilty spending 5 hours weaving one petal on a stumpwork flower then I thought, hell why not?I can honestly say if I did not stitch I would be a much more stressed uptight person. Keep the faith stitch on and, perhaps by passing on the gift we can bring a bit of lightness and beauty to a very serious world.

Think about all the meditative thoughts you have had while stitching that beautiful flower, and shared both the flower and your thoughts with all of us.Meditation and spending time nurturing self is essential to going on and nurturing others. Isn't that why we are here??CheersJo

I love your creations and I too believe we have this desire for a reason. Your art blesses my soul and inspires me. Thank you for sharing with all of us. Some day you will teach your grandchildren how to do this. What a joy! Jane

I have an interesting perspective from the young side of things, and I've taken a lot of time justifying these questions you raise because I've switched majors recently from Education in Physics to Textile and Apparel Design (with more interest in textiles, needlework and craft than the fashion or apparel industries), and I guess part of the conclusion I have come to is that what I am doing is so obviously more worthwhile to me than most people's professions. Also, I have a lot of problems with other people's values, especially with regards to work and the meaningful life. As time goes on, and I work on these issues even more, I've found it increasingly problematic and even anti-feminist to undervalue handwork, especially in traditionally female crafts.

My boyfriend and I have a very philosophical relationship, and we talk a lot about "being the change," which can be another way to say, "Don't let people get to you." And I'm going to go out on a limb here and say, from what I can see of you from your blog, you *are* the change I want, in some senses at least. You certainly lead a rich life and make amazing art, which are some of my few goals in life.

Remember, a good portion of the people who tell you your art is a waste of time spend a lot of time learning skills, like say Guitar Hero, that will be totally useless if an outside entity stops providing new content. So just be smug. It's what I do :)

I didn't read all the comments, so this may be a repeat. I often get the same thoughts. I've come to the conclusion that if I really want to do it and have no pretentious reasons, then it is a real calling. It provides beauty for others and we can all use beauty in our lives. It keeps you from doing something you don't want to, and often shouldn't, be doing (real time wasters like all day tv or something). It also provides you with this time for reflection/meditation/wondering. It's good to think of the value of what you are doing (in the unlikely case you should decide you really don't want to be doing it), but I'm sure you also use your stitching time to think of other things. Some are probably mundane. (What should we have for dinner?) Some may be service oriented. (How can I help So-and-so?) And maybe other thoughts trail from these current thoughts away from stitching and into a metaphysical realm, which depending on your own beliefs can be prayer, conversations with God, or just listening to the universe. I suppose there are those who don't see the value in that, either, but I'm not one of them.

"They're just diversions to my true calling. And, after all this time, I have no doubt that needlework is my calling."

Hmmm, seems like I told you that a couple of years ago. So, you love your needlework and somewhere in the back of your mind you are feeling guilty that you aren't contributing enough to curing the ills of the world, or to your family's income or whatever else thing is in the back of your mind. You do not need $$ for your work to be of value. I still believe that your contribution to the art world is your sharing your work and techniques which helps to prevent needlework from becoming a lost art. You already see that when little girls show you the work that you inspired them to do. And look how you are received by your peers as evidenced in CT.

This is a great post and many of us are also wondering why we are not blessed with more time to dedicate to our passions.

I can relate 100% to the little voice that says "there are better things to spend your time doing". And unfortunately, it hampers my ability to stitch. I KNOW it's irrational. I know. But sometimes it paralyzes me.

I try and tell myself this - it's no different than golfing, playing xbox, yoga, jogging, stamp collecting, rebuilding old cars.....it's all the same. A hobby/passion exists for us to de-stress and enjoy life. We're only here once, so enjoy!!

I don't think I've ever questioned the time I've spent being creative. I've questioned why I haven't managed to find a way to let it support me financially so that I can spend even more time at it, but the satisfaction and fulfillment I gain are far beyond any $$ I might glean from it.

You should always do what you love and the rest will take care of itself. Truly.

The delight that other people get from looking at someone's beautiful work is all the excuse it needs. We do not all of us have the skills to make medical advances or house the homeless. What we can do is make life pleasanter and more beautiful for those who can do the more dramatic stuff.

I've thought the same things sometimes. But at the end of the day, we all have our hobbies, our passions, and nothing will turn us away from the things we really love, no matter how frivolous those things are. That's why we still have amazing artists like you, creating such beautiful and intricate things!

Thank you for posting your thoughts about this. I sometimes wonder why this is my passion, and not something people would think is more useful. But then I look at a flower, and notice it's beauty. I have a bouquet of fresias, mums, and roses in front of me here. I believe God designed each one of those flowers, so beautiful! and so different from each other. I can tell thought and caring went into that design, and a desire to make the world a beautiful place. When I think about it that way, I feel that making beauty is a way of becoming god-like in my life. The desire to make beauty (in a stitched flower, or any way) is a desire on our part to be more like God. I say Keep on Going! Make your corner of creation beautiful! Jane

Your are very lucky to know what your gifts are. That you choose to take the time to create in a manner that these ideas come to you is a lesson that we all can learn. Thanks for sharing your light and gifts with us.

Where is it written that our only valid purpose is some great humanitarian thing? I reject that thought. I revel in being Everywoman with a simple skill, family and life. It may not be grand, but we are all cogs in the Giant Wheel. Certainly the beautiful art you create DOES make the world a better place, just like you do, and your blog does, and your photography. And sharing your thoughts with us. Yep, we may be a small group, but we’re good people, we love our families, and we contribute to beauty in the world. Do we need more than that? Hugs, Cathy....who has been drooling over your beaded lace flower...

Sitting here WAVING right back AT YOU!!!!! Ok SO you have found your passion- do you realize how many people go thru their lives never having any clue what their passion is, never mind able to live it???? WHo made you feel like you ahd to question your path??? A POX ON THEM I SAYthe inspriation, joy and sighs of delight that you give to all of us IS MAKING THE WORLD a much better and more beautiful place. You ahve a totally delightful and sharing personality that flows thru your wonderful prose and manages to infect all of us who are lucky enough to know you thru your blog!!!! You give us daily gifts of fabulous photography and your prose, your prose!!Thru you I am reaching to work on more stitchwork and I ahve learned so much from you. I ahve found the CQ adventure because of you and we have met in person and have a wonderful friendship because of what we each do and because of how we chosse to spend our time. If we were to ask our families, they would not claim that they were neglected, not fed or clothed not taken on roller coasters or to wonderful beaches and had awonderful family times together. we as the Mom's really make that all happen. then on top of all of that (24/7 job btw) you chose to create wonderfully detailed works of art!!! STITCH on girl, we would be lost and so sad without you in all of our lives!!!!!

Someone asked me where I purchased the applique on my felted bag and I'm sure I stared at her blankly several minutes until we finally connected when she pointed to the paisley I had spent days beading right onto the bag. Would my time have been better spent if I HAD purchased an applique? Nope. How satisfying or fulfilling would that be! Scripture even tells us to '...work with your own hands...' and speaks of those who sew and weave and embroider and calls them designers and calls the work a skill. It speaks of blue and scarlet and purple linens and silks. Being creative just means we take after our heavenly Father, the Great Creator.Andrea

Your creativity and passion is just as important as building a house or feeding the hungry. We all need food for the soul and we only get that through the selfless artistry of people like you who spend 10 hours embroidering a flower and making this world a little more beautiful.Cenya

Hi. I just read a long article about the clothes how the clothes that celebrities wear are copied and available in a matter of days in stores. They are of inferior quality, made by people that are forced to work very long hours for very little money, the cotton ruins environments, children are forced to work in the textile industry too. We buy the cheap, quickly produced clothes and wear them one or two times. They couldn't really handle more. So, one does wonder, is the tipping point coming soon? Will society ever start valuing quality and things of beauty again?

I sit and hand piece little hexagons together when I know full well I can go out and buy a blanket for very little money.

I keep sitting doing my needlework when I know their is little value in it to the outside world.

My partner's mother is retired. I wonder what does she do with all her time? The answer: She takes care of the cat, cleans the house, reads novels and does crossword puzzles. For my part, I can't fathom that kind of life. That isn't using your time well. What about other people? They sit and watch TV and chat on the internet. That isn't any better.

For me my projects mark time. I can remember what I was doing, how I was feeling when I created them. They are so much more than little stitches on fabric. My life is worked into them.

Value your handiwork, and really truly be grateful that you live in a place where you can afford to lay your time on things of beauty that give you so much satisfaction and happiness. Share your joy with others. Show the world that quick money is not what it's all about.

Never question your bliss. Every moment we spend in peace & happiness is a gift to the world. Literally. We are not here simply to "accomplish", we are here to follow our hearts & to be the unique expression of life & Love that only we can be. Creating beauty is as neccessary as any other calling. I, for one, am so very grateful to be introduced to your work today (you were featured on Craft Gossip blog) & I am now a loyal follower. Stitch on!!! :-)

Having just spent the better part of three weeks listening to numerous tour guides explaining art and artists, I think you are doing exactly what you are supposed to be doing. Listening to your muse, exploring your art, and using your God-given gift to enrich your life and the lives of those around you.

Your needlework is inspiring~ and I feel fortunate to have the ability to appreciate it thru your blog. Thank YOU!

The other thing I learned on vacation was that a good bottle of wine can cure just about anything (especially deep thinking). Try that...

Don't ever doubt what you do, you are truly an inspiration. I love your blogs and it has motivated me so much to try new things and to take time for myself. You are and artist and the art world thanks you.

We are often judged by how productive we are in terms of how much money we make. Art, and the intense personal development that can come from it is productive, just hard to measure. When we create we see the world with different eyes than those who just consume.

Creating makes you a better person. I see that in the people around me, and my students who grow so much when they master something like knitting a scarf.

Give yourself permission to follow your passion. Others will admire you for the guts it takes to do that evenmoreso than what you create.

I don't know how I missed this post, but I'd like to comment by repeating a comment I left for another artist:'Because I believe that creating something is giving a piece of one's self, the process alone is a gift, and the result exists with the heart and soul of it's creator.'We create because we are driven to do so, and thus make the world a more beautiful place, albeit one flower at a time. Creating feeds our soul, stimulates our minds, helps us to grow as human beings. We pass on skills we use to embellish that once were used to create and repair clothing. Thank you for inspiring me.

Susan your creative needlework has inspired not just me but so many of the world's women. If you have inspired only one, your life is indeed well worth while.What a great way to teach people to step back from life's troubles and relax with needles and threads.I would never have used lace in this way and it is stunning.I'll have to go search for some to play with.